William Womack Heath

Name: W. W. Heath

Residence Address: 1808 Vance Circle, Austin, Texas

Business Address: 202 Perry-Brooks Building, Austin, Texas

Ranch Address: Heath’s Blanco County Circle Bar Ranch, Hye, Texas

Profession and Businesses: Attorney, Ranching, Insurance, Banking

Sports Interested In: Hunting and Fishing

Other Sports: Football

Birthplace: Normangee, Leon County, Texas

Date of Birth: December 7, 1903

Family: Wife; Mrs. Mavis Heath and two daughters: Mrs. Linda Heath Hester of Austin, and Mrs. Cynthia H. Woodfill of San Antonio, and three granddaughters

General Information:     Ex-student of colleges and universities, including The University of Texas, followed by varied public service, culminating in membership of The University of Texas System Board of Regents in March, 1959; Vice-Chairman of the Board and Chairman of its Executive Committee in March, 1961; Chairman of the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System since December, 1962; Renamed to the Board of Regents and re-elected its Chairman in April, 1965.

                Mr. Heath’s first Work was as a school teacher, principal and athletic coach. Then, he was elected County Attorney at age 20; later County Judge of Grimes County, Texas; was selected Secretary of State of Texas at 29 years of age; and was Assistant Attorney General in charge of State Affairs, Banking, and Insurance Division.

                Mr. Heath was appointed as a member of the State Board for Hospitals and Special Schools in October, 1957 to fill unexpired term ending in 1959. He was elected Chairman of the Board while its junior member in time of service and remained in that post until qualifying as a member of the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System; a former member and Vice-Chairman of the Board for Lease of University Lands; a former member of the Executive Committee of Committee of the Governing Boards of Texas State colleges and Universities; Now, President of Texas Law Enforcement and Youth Development Foundation. Mr. Heath was a member of the Texas State Finance Advisory Commission. He was a Delegate-at-Large to 1960 and 1964 Democratic National Conventions. Mr. Heath was General Chairman of the 1961 Texas Governor’s Inaugural Committee and Co-General Chairman of the 1965 Texas Governor’s Inaugural Committee.

                Regent Heath began a private law practice in Austin in 1937. He is now a senior partner in Heath and Davis law firm which specializes as counsel and attorney for major insurance corporations, such as American National, Franklin Life, National Life and Accident, and many others. Mr. Heath owns and operates the largest ranch in Blanco County, Texas. He is presently a member of the Board of Directors of The Capital National Bank in Austin, Texas, Braniff International Airways, and Dillard’s Department Stores. He is extremely engaged in insurance business and is now a Director or Officer for numerous insurance companies, including National Old Line Insurance Company of Little Rock, Arkansas, Public Savings Life Insurance Company of Charleston, South Carolina, and Independent Insurance Group with Executive Offices in St. Louis, Missouri, of which he is one of the founders and which pioneered in numerous Midwestern and Southern states fire and extended coverage insurance on the industrial plan. Mr. Heath is presently a member of the Board of Directors of Home for the Austin District of the Methodist Church; trustee and member of the Board of Stewards of University Methodist Church, Austin; and, trustee of University Methodist Church Foundation.

Last updated April 24, 1965